Biomol Ther.  2022 Nov;30(6):570-575. 10.4062/biomolther.2022.126.

Protective Role of Corticosterone against Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Neuronal Cell Death in SH-SY5Y Cells

• Lee C
• Jang JH
• Park GH

• KMID: 2534707
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4062/biomolther.2022.126

Abstract

Stress breaks body balance, which can cause diverse physiological disorders and worsen preexisting diseases. However, recent studies have reported that controllable stress and overcoming from stress reinforce resilience to resist against more intense stress afterwards. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of corticosterone (CORT), a representative stress hormone against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced neuronal cell death and its underlying molecular mechanism in SH-SY5Y cells, a human neuroblastoma cell line. The decreased cell viability by H₂O₂ was effectively restored by the pretreatment with low concentration of CORT (0.03 μM for 72 h) in the cells.H₂O₂-increased expression of apoptotic markers such as PUMA and Bim was decreased by CORT pretreatment. Furthermore, pretreatment of CORT attenuated H₂O₂-mediated oxidative damages by upregulation of antioxidant enzymes via activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). These findings suggest that low concentration of CORT with eustressed condition enhances intracellular self-defense against H₂O₂-mediated oxidative cell death, suggesting a role of low concentration of CORT as one of key molecules for resilience and neuronal cell survival.

Keyword

Apoptosis; Eustress; Corticosterone; Nrf2; Antioxidant enzymes